Delegates to the UTM party convention that took place in Mzuzu City Sunday elected Reserve Bank of Malawi former governor Dalitso Kabambe as president.
He replaces State Vice President Michael Usi, who did not pay nomination fees of K20 million and claimed massive flouting of provisions of the party’s constitution by those who were organising the indaba.
Kabambe, who was born on November 18 and will be in charge for the next five years, defeated Newton Kambala, who got 26 votes; Patricia Kaliati, who got 21 votes; and Mathews Chinombo Mtumbuka, who amassed 22 votes.
At the convention, delegates also voted for Alexander Bulirani as UTM deputy president, Willet Karonga as secretary general, with Hasheem Banda being elected as organising secretary.
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Felix Njawala maintained the position of publicity secretary, with Maqwenda Chunga being elected campaign director.
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Cecilia Mandambwe is the director of women.
Penjani Kalua has also maintained the position of director of youth, with Emily Chintu Phiri winning the position of director of political Affairs.
The party’s director of protocol and social welfare is Lisa Sande while the position of director of elections has gone to Bright Kemsley Kawaga.
Big casualties at the race were Noel Masangwi, who was vying for the position of deputy president, and Joseph Chidanti Malunga, who was interested in the position of secretary general.
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George Saonda, who was vying for the position of organising secretary, also lost—just as Norman Nyirenda, which wanted to be UTM spokesperson.
Thirty positions went unopposed.
UTM had been embroiled in turmoil since the tragic death of its founding president, Saulos Chilima, on June 10 2024.
He died in a Malawi Defence Force plane crash alongside eight others in Chikangawa Forest.
His loss dealt a severe blow to the party, creating factions and fractures that Usi had struggled to mend.
It was not surprising that when delivering her report, treasurer general Olipa Muyaba said the party’s finances had negatively been affected.
Muyaba said the party generates resources through contributions from members and donors—both local and international.
She said during the 2019 elections, the party mobilised K2.1 billion.
Muyaba also indicated that during the June 23 2020 court-ordered presidential election, the party generated K1 billion.
In 2021, she said, the party mobilised about K189 million for bye-elections which were held in various districts across the country.
She added that during this year’s convention, they mobilised K350 million.
On expenditures, she said the party had used about K123 million on funeral ceremonies this year, much of which was used during the demise of Chilima.
She further indicated that the party had used about K50 million in rentals since 2019.
Muyaba said on fixed assets, notably cars, the party was yet to discuss the issue properly, such that people would be informed at an appropriate time.
In her report, former secretary general for UTM Patricia Kaliati said the party continued to grow, boasting 42 councillors and 12 members of Parliament (MPs).
At the 2019 elections, the party got four MPs.
Kaliati said they expected to have the party’s former president Michael Usi but that, being the State Vice President, he was preoccupied with other assignments.
